Imran’s allegation and the reporter’s response

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan has charged that MSR and his pro-PML-N propagandists get exposed every time they target him with falsehood and fail to print facts they themselves got confirmed.

He wrote in his twitter account and also displayed a copy of the letter by Austin Robertson, ex-director, who mentioned in the letter, “I received two telephone calls and an email from a person called Ahmed Noorani who is asking questions about your contract with the World Series Cricket. He asked specifically if it was a two-year contract or three-year. I confirmed with him over the telephone and again in writing that it was three-year contract”.

Ahmad Noorani adds: I was working on a story to find out points on which the money trail provided by PTI chief Imran Khan completely proves his view and the points on which any fact stated is completely wrong.

It was same as was done in all other cases including that Sharif family and all deficiencies and lacuna in points of money trail were highlighted at the stage when same detailed were submitted to the apex court.

Dr Arif Alvi of PTI had disclosed in Geo News program hosted by senior anchor person Hamid Mir on November 11, 2016 that The News story highlighting deficiencies in the money trail presented by Sharifs titled “Sharifs don’t answer 13 basic questions” was discussed and read out in the meeting of Central Executive Committee (CEC) of PTI. This was not the only story. There were many more.

On the night of July 23 (Sunday), I sent an email on a private ‘hotmail’ address given on letter submitted by Imran Khan in the SC to prove that he earned 75,000 US dollars from Kerry Packer Cricket Series.

The letter was from one Australian citizen Austin Robertson. I got the response to this unknown private email last night but I needed more verifications and my story containing many points was not complete. When I woke up the next morning, there was hue and cry all over the social media and on some selected agenda-driven news channels with non-journalistic approach. The news was that I had got a response from Austin “confirming” some facts and that I hadn’t reported that. The media house I am working with was also being attacked. This was not a big deal for me, as some forces working in the capital and social media wings of political parties especially that of PTI always continue to attack me or my journalistic work on regular basis.

The said story was completed on Monday and was filed. It is being published today. The PTI chief can read it. Ironically, I have also contacted Tahir Nawaz, accountant of Niazi Services Limited, the offshore company of PTI chief, to ask some questions but Imran Khan simply forgot to mention the same in his tweets.

What is the real problem of Imran Khan with me, other independent journalists who do not blindly follow his ‘instructions’ and his line of politics? At present, the Sharifs’ case is concluding and arguments are being made whether the evidences collected by the JIT are conclusive to prove the concerned allegation or not.

The PTI chief is basically disturbed because The News has reported mere facts that the JIT failed to come up with any single conclusive evidence.

Most of the parts of JIT reports are The News stories which raised certain questions. But the court cannot punish merely on basis of allegations or questions and in the final stages of any case only the authenticity of the evidence is discussed, not the questions. What The News should have done? Try to falsely prove that the evidences “produced” by the JIT are strong enough to prove the allegation? The job of a journalist is different. He/she has to report facts to the readers and not to please or annoy any political leader.

Political leaders across the civilized world acknowledge the dignity and prestige of journalism and always appreciate investigative work. There is no difference between the PTI and PML-N leaderships on account of attacking media persons for any reports adverse to them.

The PTI chief, however, crossed all limits of decency on Monday. If you do not ask questions you are attacked by the PTI and Imran Khan. In the latest case, I have been attacked simply for asking questions. It has been a continuous attitude of the PTI chief to specifically attack independent media groups like Geo and Jang Group of Newspapers. His workers, supported by some others, even attacked Geo and Jang Group offices many times in 2014. But they were not aware that Geo offices were not being attacked for the first time. We faced same fascism whenever Geo & Jang Group stood against dictators or dictatorial policies. Attack of General Musharraf’ men in police uniform in 2007 when Geo & Jang Group was resisting unconstitutional moves of the dictator, are still fresh to our memories.

The journey and the pursuit of truth continued in these circumstances and will continue anyway. Khan Sahab is new to all. He is simply unaware who will be the only one standing behind him or his political party when they will be facing wrath of the ‘powerful’.